Bowhunting Blogs

SIT ALL DAY WITH SITKA’S LAYERING SYSTEM.Three layers work together to deliver serious comfort and mobility on stand!

NAPA, CA. Sitka Gear Inc., has a few suggestions for hardcore whitetail hunters that find themselves looking for a layering system that performs during all aspects of the hunt. Layering has been a highly effective method for active hunters in mountainous terrain to stay comfortable in the fluctuating conditions the high-country doles out and now whitetail hunters can maximize their field time by layering with Sitka Gear’s appropriate offerings.

To start with, all hunters need a base layer. The ideal candidate for this crucial, next-to-skin component is the Core Zip-T (Core Bottoms are available as well), which features Silver Scent Elimination Technology and SUPER Dry with Odor Technology. Equally important is the insulation layer, and Sitka’s Kelvin Jacket fits the bill perfectly. The lightweight Kelvin Jacket (Pants are available as well) has an extreme heat-to-weight ratio and is filled with Primaloft, a synthetic highloft insulation. Lastly, to stave off the most brutal of outdoor conditions, Sitka recommends the new Stratus Jacket and Bib. Both feature WINDSTOPPER® fabric, a lightly brushed face to eliminate noise, and full range of motion to aid in every step of the hunt.

Sitka Gear’s top-quality products feature the most scientifically advanced visual concealment pattern ever to hit the market – GORE® OPTIFADETM Concealment, the first-ever concealment based on the science of animal vision. The new Big Game/Forest pattern takes into account the distance and extreme angles found while treestand hunting and works to obscure elevated hunters. GORE® OPTIFADETM Concealment Big Game/Forest incorporates a micro and a macro pattern. The unique micro-pattern considers the way a deer or other ungulate perceives color, the ratio of positive to negative space and other visual elements to create an effect that allows the hunter to blend with the animal’s perception of the environment. The macro-pattern breaks up the symmetry of the human body so that if a hunter is detected, the animal will not be able to identify the hunter as a predator.

About Sitka Gear, Inc.Sitka Gear is the leading manufacturer of high-performance hunting apparel that utilizes cutting-edge technology to keep hunters warm, dry and comfortable in any condition. For more information about Sitka visit their website or call 877.SITKA-MG.

NAPA, CA. Sitka Gear Inc., has owned the apparel market where serious western hunters are concerned. With the philosophy that clothing should be an integral part of any hunter’s equipment list, Sitka Gear has quickly gained a following amongst those that venture into the roughest terrain the West has to offer.

In just half of a decade Sitka’s apparel line has grown to include clothing that goes so far beyond what hunters have come to expect that most view it as essential gear. From base layers to rainwear and high-quality outerwear, Sitka has provided hunters with garments that keep them comfortable in the areas that mule deer, elk, sheep and even mountain goats call home.

But, while Sitka Gear has taken over the western hunting market, those hunters that live in the Midwest and east have had little opportunity to utilize their products. Until now…

In 2010, Sitka Gear has introduced the Forest line that is specifically designed for hunters that live for the adrenaline rush that whitetails provide. Several new additions to their overall product line invite whitetail hunters to test out the Downpour, Incinerator and Stratus series along with other Sitka mainstays like the Core base layers and Kelvin Series. While this apparel stands out on its own as the best of the best, Sitka Gear’s top-quality products feature the most scientifically advanced visual concealment pattern ever to hit the market – GORE® OPTIFADE Concealment, the first-ever concealment based on the science of animal vision. The new Big Game/Forest pattern takes into account the distance and extreme angles found while treestand hunting and works to obscure elevated hunters.

The camouflage marketplace has gone through some radical changes since I first entered the woods with a bow and arrow. Traditional military camo gave way to the phenomenon of Trebark which eventually gave way to the two companies that redefined camouflage as we know it – Realtree and Mossy Oak. And while these two industry giants continue to battle it out for dominance, a variety of other camouflage companies are all fighting for their share of the marketplace. Many of these camo alternatives focus on the same thing; making a product that doesn’t necessarily look good on the store shelf, seat covers, bed sheets, or toilet seats but one that helps conceal hunters better.

With the recent resurgence of “open” camo patterns including Predator, ASAT, and Natural Gear the big two have followed suit with their own lighter and more open patterns; Realtree’s AP HD and Mossy Oak’s Treestand. However, there is a new kid on the block for 2009 with some serious money to spend on R&D and marketing – W.L. Gore. That’s right; the same company that brought the world Gore-Tex has developed their own camouflage called Optifade.

I first learned about this new camo pattern through a printed ad in one of the few hunting magazines I still recieve. The ad was extremely simple and simply advertised “The Science of Nothing”, and directed people interested in learning more to a website of the same name (www.thescienceofnothing.com). Being the computer geek that I am, I typed the address into my browser to see what it was all about. What I found surprised me, while peaking my curiosity at the same time.

Optifade camo from the inventors of Gore-Tex is a digital-based camofulage intended to both break up the human outline as well as help you blend into your surroundings better.

Optifade camo was developed with the help of military experts who have spent countless hours (and no doubt countless amounts of our tax money) at researching effective camo patterns. With the aid of these experts the folks at Gore were able to combine two camouflage technologies that work to both break up the human outline, but also help conceal the hunter into his surroundings no matter where they may be.

In addition to the military experts, Gore worked with several scientists who are experts on ungulate vision to develop Optifade. Ungulates would be any animal with hooves, those which hunters are most likely to pursue; deer, elk, moose, sheep, etc. Unlike humans these animals have what is called dichromatic vision meaning they see the world in black, white, gray, yellow, and blue. Given this information, Gore was able to color their new Optifade pattern in such a way that it would be “invisible” to a hunter’s quarry.

This photo is an example of how an ungulate would see a hunter wearing Optifade camo.

But designing a new camo pattern wasn’t good enough. Now Gore needed to find a partner to bring their new pattern to the market, and that partner is Sitka Gear. For those of you not familiar with Sitka, they offer hunting apparel that uses high-performance fabrics and designs commonly found in the mountaineering (mountain climbing) industry. Sitka offers a variety of garments from base layers all the way to the toughest outwear designed to withstand just about anything you can throw at it.

A Sitka jacket in Optifade camo as seen at the 2009 ATA Show.

After spending close to ½ hour watching all of the videos on the Optifade website (which were fairly entertaining) I was left to wonder whether or not this camo is truly a technological breakthrough, or just some really clever marketing from a very large company. Truth be told, I think the pattern looks very good. It is digital-based which means no sticks, limbs, leaves, or false shadows that help sell t-shirts with your favorite NASCAR driver on them, but may not help conceal you when you need it to. Keep in mind that Optifade was designed to work at distances of 20 meters and beyond, not up close like most other patterns.

The only downfall I see with the introduction of this new pattern is that, from what I can tell anyways, it is only available through Sitka Gear. While there’s certainly nothing wrong with Sitka, I’m still hoping to try some of their stuff out eventually, the high cost of these garments is certainly going to limit some hunters’ ability to try Optifade for themselves. Although in their defense, it is a brand new pattern and I’m sure licensing to other garment manufacturers will increase over time. In fact, Bowtech is already offering Optifade as a finish option on their 2009 bows.

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